• Rome Masters

Djokovic powers through as Nadal wobbles

Novak Djokovic has been in unstoppable form © PA Photos

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Rome Masters Seedings

Novak Djokovic showed no signs of letting up as he raced into the third round of the Rome Masters with a straight sets victory over Lukasz Kubot at the Foro Italico.

The world No. 2 needed just 67 minutes to seal a 6-0 6-3 win to extend his astonishing unbeaten streak to 33 matches.

Djokovic had no problems in adapting to the slower conditions as he powered through the opening set, dropping just nine points in the process.

And while Kubot managed to avoid the whitewash, he failed to trouble the second seed as Djokovic sailed into the third round, where he will meet Stanislas Wawrinka who needed all three sets to see off Italian hopeful Filippo Volandri 6-1 3-6 6-2.

"Obviously after the period I have had over the last few months I want to get through the opening rounds as quickly as possible," Djokovic told Sky Sports. "I don't need much time to adjust to the conditions and I am just happy to get it over with in straight sets."

After bringing Rafael Nadal's clay streak to an end in the final in Madrid on Sunday, Djokovic is closing in on the Spaniard and could be crowned world No. 1 if he wins in Rome and Nadal fails to reach the semi-finals.

And Nadal was clearly feeling the pressure as the world No. 1 and defending champion survived a major scare to progress to the last 16. The Spaniard found himself a set down against world No. 148 Paolo Lorenzi before rallying to seal a 6-7(5) 6-4 6-0 victory.

Despite an early break, Nadal made 21 unforced errors in the opening set as the Italian delighted the Rome crowd with his fearless shotmaking to snatch the opening set. While many expected Nadal to step on the gas in the second set after another early break, Lorenzi, who has won just five ATP Tour matches in his career, refused to be beaten as he broke back as Nadal struggled to seize control of the match.

His superior quality and fitness ultimately proved the difference, but his No.1 ranking could be in real jeopardy if he fails to find another gear in Rome this week.

Roger Federer, now No. 3 in the world, ensured his name will remain in the reckoning after overcoming Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a relatively comfortable two sets.

It was not a perfect performance from the Swiss - he gave away as many break point opportunities (seven) as he created in the match, which lasted just shy of 90 minutes - but he ensured he wasn't broken as he picked off Tsonga three times to complete a 6-4 6-2 victory.

Elsewhere, Andy Murray will face Potito Starace in the next round after the Italian saw off the challenge of Viktor Troicki, 6-4 6-4.

Both Mardy Fish and Feliciano Lopez needed three sets to defeat Ivan Ljubicic and Phillip Kohlschreiber respectively - while Nicolas Almagro and Stanislas Wawrinka were also winners.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.